Manchester City have officially appointed former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca as their new manager, signing the Italian to a three-year contract following the departure of Pep Guardiola.
Maresca, 46, is no stranger to the Etihad Stadium. Before taking charge at Chelsea, he worked as Guardiola’s assistant during City’s historic treble-winning campaign in 2022/23. He also enjoyed success with the club’s Elite Development Squad, guiding the Under-23s to the Premier League 2 title during the 2020/21 season.
His appointment marks a homecoming for a coach who understands the club’s philosophy, expectations, and winning culture.
As part of the move, Maresca has apologised for leaving Chelsea midway through last season and will personally pay an undisclosed compensation fee. Manchester City will also pay Chelsea more than £17 million (€20 million) in compensation to complete the deal.
Speaking after his appointment, Maresca expressed his excitement about returning to the club.
“Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me.
“City is an incredibly well-run football club. Everything they do is innovative, planned and purposeful. For a manager, that is a dream situation. It provides the consistency I need to do my job effectively.
“This will be my third spell here. I know this club, I know the demands and I know the expectations.”
Maresca had been without a managerial role since leaving Chelsea by mutual consent on New Year’s Day, despite having three and a half years remaining on his contract. During his time at Stamford Bridge, he enjoyed notable success, leading the Blues to UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup triumphs. He also guided Chelsea to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, a significant improvement from their 10th-place finish the previous season.
The Italian now takes over from Guardiola, who brought an end to his remarkable 10-year reign at Manchester City following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season. Under Guardiola, City established themselves as one of Europe’s dominant forces, winning 17 major trophies, including multiple Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League.
However, Guardiola signed off after City narrowly missed out on the Premier League title to Arsenal in the 2025/26 campaign, marking the first time in his managerial career that he failed to win the league in consecutive seasons.
With Maresca now at the helm, Manchester City begin a new chapter under a familiar face. The club will hope his knowledge of City’s playing philosophy and his recent managerial experience can help maintain the high standards established during Guardiola’s era.
